Cost of Living Comparison Between Harare and Kariba Cost of Living Comparison Between Harare and Kariba

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.85 ZWL 263

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.65 ZWL 1,217

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.09 ZWL 162

Cappuccino

$3.04 ZWL 81.0

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.96 ZWL 25.55

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ZWL 13.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.47 ZWL 39.30

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ZWL 52.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 ZWL 41.30

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 ZWL 26.18

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 ZWL 47.01

Eggs

$1.88 ZWL 50.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.96 ZWL 319

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 ZWL 152

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.55 ZWL 175

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 ZWL 81.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ZWL 44.48

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 ZWL 54.6

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ZWL 40.64

Potato (1kg)

$1.72 ZWL 45.97

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 ZWL 46.09

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 ZWL 31.90

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ZWL 26.82

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 ZWL 52.2

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ZWL 260

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ZWL 35.94

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ZWL 50.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 ZWL 26.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.0 ZWL 1,626

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.39 ZWL 117

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 ZWL 54.6

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.09 ZWL 136

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.72 ZWL 45.86

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.8K ZWL 580.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.2K ZWL 726.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$53.4 ZWL 1,423

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$21.93 ZWL 585

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.9 ZWL 1,756

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.76 ZWL 1,300

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.35 ZWL 596

Cinema Ticket

$9.95 ZWL 265

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$470 ZWL 12.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,095 ZWL 242.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.89 ZWL 637

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.30 ZWL 568

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.44 ZWL 1,025

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.68 ZWL 1,085

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$412 ZWL 11.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 ZWL 8,409

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$888 ZWL 23.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$720 ZWL 19.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$916 ZWL 24.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$389 ZWL 10.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$402 ZWL 10.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.69

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Harare: August 17, 2026

Last update for Kariba: August 18, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Harare vs Kariba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Kariba is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Harare, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Harare and Kariba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Kariba wins on affordability, Harare on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.